Mama Rowling's New Role.

There’s an awful lot of material on YouTube around the theme of Harry Potter, and it’s obvious that the boy wizard and his pals have a huge, worldwide fan base which has become more than just a fan base. The comment sections leave no doubt that the wizarding world of Harry Potter has ceased to be simple fiction in the minds of the Potterheads and become an alternate reality. Harry and the rest are real friends and Hogwarts is their alternative community. They crave the magic, the camaraderie, and even the conflict, to such an extent that it’s become a vital component of their lives.

What’s also noticeable is that an awful lot of vitriol is now being aimed at Harry’s creator, JK Rowling. There’s a growing sense among the faithful that they feel let down by the spin-offs – the sequel, The Cursed Child, and the prequel, Fantastic Beasts. A variety of arguments are being put forward, but the underlying complaint seems to be that the spin-offs are effectively polluting the hallowed halls of Hogwarts and all who dwell therein.

So now I’m wondering whether there’s an interesting phenomenon going on here. It appears that a schism is developing between the creator and the myth. It’s as though JKR gave birth to child which has now grown up, developed its own individual identity and flown the nest, leaving Ms Rowling to sit at home like an abandoned parent. So has she now become irrelevant to the world of Harry, Hermione, Ron et al? It’s an interesting thought, isn’t it? And it would surely be unique in the annals of popular fiction.

*  *  *

Excuse me, Jeffrey

‘What?’

Could you stop being serious now and get back to being an unlovable loony? All this earnestness is making me feel ill.

‘Me too. I’ll try. Maybe tomorrow.’